Suggestion for the Decoration of Lower Right and Top Right of a Framel, Plate 1 from an Untitled Series with Rocailles Ornaments for Window, Pier Glass and Door Frames' 1745 - 1755

Editor: Here we have “Suggestion for the Decoration of Lower Right and Top Right of a Framel, Plate 1 from an Untitled Series with Rocailles Ornaments for Window, Pier Glass and Door Frames'” made sometime between 1745 and 1755. It's a drawing and print by Jeremias Wachsmuth, an engraving featuring rococo style decorative arts. Looking at this image, I'm immediately struck by the intricate detail and the sheer density of ornamentation. What exactly were the social uses of this drawing? Curator: This print reveals a lot about 18th-century visual culture, actually. Objects such as this helped to disseminate style across Europe and even beyond through traveling artisans. Notice how this suggests decorations for domestic frames such as windows and mirrors. Consider the aspirations of the rising merchant class at the time. Editor: So, this engraving essentially functioned as a sort of catalog for interior design elements? Curator: Exactly. And who consumed that style? What did displaying ornate objects communicate about power and affluence? Editor: It signifies having disposable income and the privilege of living in a well-decorated space. Sort of like subscribing to design magazines or having a Pinterest board today. It democratized consumption of visual culture by the middle class through print! I hadn’t considered that. Curator: Precisely. What is particularly striking about the Rococo period is its emphasis on asymmetrical and very florid detail to signal wealth and good taste. Does that aesthetic prevail today? Editor: Not so much. Minimalism is more common in today’s tastes. Now I understand the political statement such detail made at the time and how styles influence societal dynamics. Thank you for shining light on this piece.